Saint of the day for January 16: story of San Berardo and companions

(d. January 16, 1220)

Preaching the gospel is often a dangerous job. Leaving one's homeland and adapting to new cultures, governments and languages ​​is hard enough; but martyrdom covers all other sacrifices.

In 1219, with the blessing of St. Francis, Berardo left Italy with Peter, Adjute, Accurs, Odo and Vitalis to preach in Morocco. During the trip to Spain, Vitalis fell ill and commanded the other friars to continue their mission without him.

They tried to preach in Seville, then in Muslim hands, but they did not convert. They went to Morocco, where they preached in the market. The friars were immediately arrested and ordered to leave the country; They refused. When they resumed their preaching, an exasperated sultan ordered them to be executed. After enduring violent beatings and refusing various bribes to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, the friars were beheaded by the sultan himself on January 16, 1220.

These were the first Franciscan martyrs. When Francis learned of their death, he exclaimed: "Now I can truly say that I have five Friars Minor!" Their relics were brought to Portugal where they prompted a young Augustinian canon to join the Franciscans and left for Morocco the following year. That young man was Antonio da Padova. These five martyrs were canonized in 1481.

Reflection

The death of Berard and his companions sparked a missionary vocation in Anthony of Padua and others. There were many, many Franciscans who responded to Francis' challenge. Proclaiming the Gospel can be fatal, but this has not stopped Franciscan men and women who still today risk their lives in many countries of the world.